The 17-year-old suspected in the shotgun killing of her father, waived her right to formal extradition proceedings Monday and will be returned to face charges in North Carolina.

In a brief hearing before Judge Stephen Shepard, Assistant Public Defender Muneer Awad said he had consulted with Crystal Brooke Howell and she had agreed to waive extradition. Howell, shackled and dressed in an orange- and white-striped jumpsuit, acknowledged she had agreed to return to her home state, signed a waiver and was led out of the courtroom.

The new urgent and primary care facility is located at 3110 William Few Parkway in the Riverwood Town Center, according to information released by the hospital. The center offers medical care for adults and children to include same-day and after-hours appointments.

Columbia County authorities are looking for a woman they say stole a wallet from a convenience store counter.

A 54-year-old Hephzibah woman said she went to the Enmark station at 221 Bobby Jones Expressway at about midnight on March 7. She forgot her wallet on the counter when she went to her car, according to a Columbia County Sheriff’s Office incident report. The woman said she realized she forgotten her wallet before leaving the parking lot, but it was gone when she went inside to retrieve it.

The semi-annual blood drive to support Shepeard Community Blood Center will be from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Evans Government Complex auditorium and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Bloodmobile at the Roads and Bridges building on Columbia Road in Appling.

The blood center provides blood products to 21 area hospitals.

To donate, one must be at least 110 pounds, in good general health and be at least 17 years old. Those who are 16 years old may also donate with written parental consent.

A Evans man was arrested Wednesday afternoon after leading Columbia County authorities on a chase.

Kenneth Allen Ringgold, 31, of Walnut Hill Drive, was charged woth forgery, fleeing and attempting to elude, hit and run, reckless driving, driving on the wrong side of the road and driving on a suspended license, according to Columbia County sheriff's lt. Andy Shedd.

More than two years after Lacy Aaron Schmidt was convicted of murdering his 14-year-old friend, a Superior Court judge refused his request for a new trial.

Schmidt, 17, was 15 when he was charged with shooting 14-year-old Alana May Calahan in her home near Harlem on Jan. 31, 2011.

A year later, a jury convicted him of murder, theft and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime. Superior Court Judge Michael N. Annis sentenced Schmidt to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

More than two years after Lacy Aaron Schmidt was convicted of murdering his 14-year-old friend, a Superior Court judge is considering his request for a new trial.

Schmidt, 17, was 15 when he was charged with shooting 14-year-old Alana May Calahan inside her home near Harlem on Jan. 31, 2011.

A year later, a jury convicted him of murder, theft and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime. Superior Court Judge Michael N. Annis sentenced Schmidt to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Newspaper readers can earn their own award from the Georgia Press Association.

The state newspaper organization is offering a $250 cash prize to the winner of a social media contest that runs through the end of March, according to a press release from the association.

Georgia residents are encouraged to enter creative photos of themselves with their favorite association member newspaper including The Columbia County News-Times and The Augusta Chronicle. Entries should be posted on Instagram or Twitter with the hastag #ReadLocalGA.

A groundbreaking ceremony for the Gander Mountain store will be at 1 p.m. on Mason McKnight Jr. Parkway, near Flowing Wells Road.

The 52,000-square-foot store will be the outdoor sports retailer’s fourth location in Georgia. Gander Mountain, based in St. Paul, sells hunting, fishing, camping, marine and outdoor lifestyle products and services. It has 131 stores in 24 states.